We were already contemplating featuring one of these two Edsels as a Hemmings Find of the Day when the other one came across our desk, also a 1958 Citation, also gold, also from Illinois. Rather than choose between the two, we decided to feature them both. For the true Edsel fan, why not buy them both and display them as a matching set? Up first, the 1958 Edsel Citation convertible, which the seller notes has a low production number:

Paint and body are in excellent condition. Paint is approximately 10 years old, but retains all of its luster and shine. The car is mechanically sound – starts and runs easily, and the TeleTouch shifter functions as it should. Previous owner has installed a heat shield over the solenoid. Interior is in very good condition, and the convertible top was replaced in the Spring of 2011. Most chrome is in excellent condition with a few exceptions.

The car is a low production number Citation, and the underhood buck tag shows a high finish paint was used when the car was built. Engine number indicates that the engine was produced during the same month of the car’s production, which would indicate a high likelihood that the engine is original to the car.

This car was restored in the early ’90s, shows little to no wear, and is an excellent example of these rare cars. This vehicle is a factory tri-tone car and has several other rarities, including power windows, power front seat and tachometer. Also adding to this car’s rarity is the fact that it was built in Los Angeles, which produced the fewest number of Edsels.

I have owned this car for eight years, and it has been a blast to drive. It attracts a crowd wherever it goes! I am selling this car because of an impending storage issue and a lack of time to enjoy driving it.

18 Responses to “Hemmings Finds of the Day – 1958 Edsel Citations”

Tough call. The convertible is such a statement of the Fifties—you can just imagine any number of Hollywood types waving from the driver’s seat. But I’d probably go with the coupe. The tri-tone paint is really stunning—the black rear cove really sets off the Edsel’s unique styling, and the white/cream roof lightens the greenhouse. The cloth interior and full power options would seal the deal. My dad always bought 2 door hardtops, too, so this coupe would fit right into my wheelhouse. Beautiful cars, both of ‘em.

I remember the introduction of the Edsel in little Newark, New York back on September 11 or 19, I believe, in 1957.A local used car dealer, Johnson Motors that had dabbled in “black Market” Chevys, took on the Edsel franchise. He sold several the first day and almost none thereafter. The pushbutton transmission was a nightmare.
Even to this day, I can’t get excited over an Edsel.

I showed these to my wife, and she joked that “nobody wanted an Edsel back then, why would they want one now? .. . I like the covertable, but the hard top would be cool too. I would have to loose the skirts though.

More unique than the other years produced (Push Button Automatic & styling) but my favorite year was 1959 (I learned to drive in our family 59 Corsair 4 dr with the 361 & 3 speed automatic).I agree with rezman’s wife remark “nobody wanted an Edsel back then”.

When introduced a come on was a plastic model of a Citation Hardtop. Convinced my father to take a test drive so I could get the model. Drove up in a ’57 De Ville. Had salesman slavering. My Dad took the test drive. I got the model. My Dad bought an ’58 De Ville. Wish I still had the model.

‘Nobody wanted them’ brings up memories for me. I was living in Key West and was going car lot to car lot looking for a ride to replace my crashed Corvair. (Yeah Nader was wrong – it was plenty safe at the speed I crashed it). Anyway, there was an Edsel on one of those lots…it nice looking condition and I remember the price…. $69 yep, sixty nine dollars….and the thing sat there for months as I drove past everyday in the T-Bird I bought. Nobody wanted the darned things…the rep was so bad.

I have always been a GM fan but I really like this Edsel. I was 12 years old when they debuted. I still have an AMT model of the hardtop that I built from the kit. Compared to the styling of all that junk Ford builds today, I would take this in a heartbeat over anything they currently have on the market.

I bought a White 1958 Edsel Pacer 2Dr with the chrome window surrounds to make it look like a hardtop. I paid $750.00. I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. It had a 3speed column shift with 303 horsepower. I took out of town aways where the pavement was straight to see how it was off the line. I let the clutch out as I was floorboarding it and there was so much black smoke coming from the rear that I thought I had blown the damn thing up. I pulled over and shut it off. The smoke was from the tires as I had laid what looked like miles of rubber. Great car!

Addendum to 1958 Edsel Pacer: I was going to college at the University of Alaska at the time. It was 1961 so I had to wait for the snow to melt in late May before I could test its acceleration off the line. The muffler and tail pipe went bad and since I could not afford a replacement, I bought about 18 feet of flexible 3″ pipe for about $3.00 and crimped it on the header pipes with a large turn screw clamps. After I did that, I assume it was not longer a 100 point car, but it was sure loud!

As the happy owner of a 1959 Edsel Ranger. Can say that the 59 styling was always my favorite. Never remember seeing to many of them as a kid, but also had an AMT Promo Citation Model. Mine is Polar White over Jet Stream Blue, a color como featured in the New Car Brochure for 59. Love the car, but I need to throw out an anchor to get it to stop! Nice to see a “perfect pair” of 58s! They really were “cutting edge” cars in the day!

In 57 Ford outsold Chevrolet 2 to 1 , whereas now most folks believe the Chev to be a design masterpiece . If you have ever stared down an Edsel at a car show in most cases it leaves you with the notion ” I can’t believe they built that thing ” .
Sorry folks “The jury is still out !! “